A new friendly spot in Tatnuck

A new dining spot in the city is Tatnuck Grille, 638 Chandler St., Worcester, owned and operated by Lawrence J. (Larry) Noon of Worcester and his wife, Lynne Noon.

The restaurant officially opened in mid-December in the spot formerly occupied by Friendly’s in Tatnuck Plaza.

Larry Noon, originally from Spencer, has owned and operated restaurants in Ft. Myers Beach and Naples. He sold both businesses in February 2012.

Lynne Noon is the daughter of the late George P. Guertin, who for many years owned and operated George Guertin Trophy Manufacturing Company and Guertin Graphics in Worcester.

Noon said he looked at several locations in the city where he could have opened a restaurant, but liked the idea of being in the Tatnuck neighborhood. “This place is manageable with 100 seats, and there’s plenty of parking,” said Noon. “We completely renovated the restaurant, and I’m really happy with the results. It’s cozy and family-friendly.”

Angel Barbosa, who at one time worked at Coral Seafood in Worcester, is executive chef. Robert Albanese is assistant manager.

Tatnuck Grille is open 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to after midnight, Friday and Saturday. Dinner is served nightly until 10 p.m. Take-out is available; Full liquor license. Telephone: (508) 792-0000.

A sample of the menu:

Angus burgers run the gamut from The City Square Burger to the Thai Blue Burger, with a price range from $10.99 to $13.99. Custom burgers and Tatnuck Sandwiches also are available.

New York strip steak (center cut), $19.99-$21.99, is already popular with diners, according to the owners.

The chef offers daily specials on the menu.

“Our lunch and dinner prices are competitive, and our drinks are affordable,” said Larry Noon. “A glass of wine won’t blow the budget.”

The Noons plan to use the existing Friendly’s take-out windows for ice cream service later this year. “I can’t wait for spring,” said Larry Noon. “I’ve already talked to an ice cream company about delivery.”

The good weather also will bring outdoor seating to Tatnuck Grille. “We really want Tatnuck Grille to be a neighborhood destination,” said Noon.

It appears it already is!

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WineNation, The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike, Millbury, posted on Facebook: “WineNation is currently closed. We will post additional information on future status as soon as we can.”

The telephone goes unanswered. The gift cards go unused!

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Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge will be open Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 21.

Events include a presentation, “Honoring a Slave Heroine: The Mumbet Story,” by storyteller and historian Tammy Denease. She will portray Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, “a young Massachusetts slave woman who won her freedom in court in 1781. Her landmark case led to the end of slavery in Massachusetts.”

Admission to the presentation is included in regular Old Sturbridge Village admission ticket at no additional cost.

Kids get free admission to the village through Jan. 31 with at least one paid adult per party. The free admission does not apply to school groups.

Old Sturbridge Village also is accepting applications for its college internship summer program. Deadline is Feb. 22.

IHOP guests will receive a complimentary stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 5. Guests are encouraged to make a voluntary contribution to the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital or other local charities.

This will be the eighth year that IHOP has held National Pancake Day. Last year, IHOP raised more than $3 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities.

This month, IHOP restaurants also have “Miracle Balloons” that can be purchased for $1 and $5 each. Guests who buy a balloon will receive a $5 off discount that can be credited toward their next IHOP visit. The fundraiser will benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Visit www.ihoppancakeday.com for more information.

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“Around the Boot in Five Courses: A Taste of Italy’s Regional Cuisine” is a wine dinner set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Tomasso Trattoria, 154 Turnpike Road, Southboro.